Fifa unveils Best XI amid Premier League omissions
Fifa has announced its Best XI during a ceremony in Doha, with a significant presence of Paris Saint-Germain players in the lineup, reports BritPanorama. Among the notable exclusions are top performers from the Premier League, with only three players earning a spot on the prestigious list.
Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool, Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, and Gianluigi Donnarumma have been recognised, highlighting a year dominated by individual talent predominantly from PSG, who achieved a treble of Champions League, Ligue 1, and Coupe de France titles last season.
PSG’s representation includes Achraf Hakimi, William Pacho, and Nuno Mendes completing the defensive line, while Donnarumma retains his goalkeeper position despite transitioning to Manchester City over the summer. This recognition comes as a result of their excellent performances throughout the season, contributing to PSG’s success on multiple fronts.
Missing from the selection are key figures such as Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah, further igniting debates around the composition of the Best XI. Cole Palmer’s inclusion underscores his standout season, in which he scored 15 goals and provided nine assists in the Premier League as well as shining during Chelsea’s successful UEFA Conference League campaign, where he was pivotal.
Palmer’s role in Chelsea’s triumph in the FIFA Club World Cup, where he was named tournament’s outstanding player after scoring twice against PSG in the final, further cements his growing reputation. A 4-4-2 formation sees Palmer positioned on the right, alongside Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham, Vitinha from PSG, and Barcelona’s Pedri, with the attack led by Ousmane Dembélé and Lamine Yamal, both of whom were frontrunners in this year’s Ballon d’Or voting.
Van Dijk’s selection follows Liverpool’s achievement in the Premier League last season, although his current team is lagging behind league leaders Arsenal by 10 points. This selection was determined based on performances from August 2024 to August 2025, reflecting their impact during this period.
Ousmane Dembélé took home the Fifa Best men’s player award during the ceremony, edging past Lamine Yamal, who also featured prominently in the Ballon d’Or voting earlier. Meanwhile, Sarina Wiegman continues her success by claiming the women’s coaching honour for the fifth time, after leading England to their second consecutive European Championship victory.
With individual accolades distributed amid a fierce competition, this year’s selections remind fans that excellence often comes with unexpected casualties, leaving room for spirited discussions as to who might have been deserving of recognition.
